AI for Breakfast

Post 154 - Word Wednesday - Mithridatism 

Mithridatism is the practice of protecting oneself against a poison by gradually self-administering non-lethal amounts. The term derives from Mithridates VI, the King of Pontus, who reportedly built up an immunity to poisons by regularly ingesting small doses[8].

Mithridatism refers to the tolerance or immunity to a poison acquired by taking gradually larger doses of it over time[1][2][3]. It is a method said to have been conceived by Mithridates to protect himself against palace intrigues and assassination attempts[3].

Some examples of mithridatism:

- Arsenic is a classic poison where mithridatism is possible, as with the possibly exaggerated reports of the "Arsenic Eaters of Styria", 19th century Austrian peasants who habitually ate normally lethal doses of arsenic as a tonic[3].

- Mithridatism is also used to treat peanut allergies, but due to the high rate of adverse effects, it is not generally recommended. An early trial in 1996 of injecting escalating doses of peanut allergen ended abruptly when one participant died from a pharmacy error in calculating the dose[5].

- The approach works only for a restricted class of poisons, so it should not be attempted without medical supervision. Mithridatism is effective with complex biological poisons, such as wasp stings, but would not explain Mithridates' supposed immunity to other poisons like chemicals[5].

So in summary, mithridatism is the gradual self-administration of a poison to build immunity, named after the historical figure Mithridates VI. While effective for certain poisons and allergens, it is a risky practice that is not applicable to all toxins. The concept also influenced the controversial practice of homeopathy[5].

Citations:
[1] https://www.thefreedictionary.com/mithridatism
[2] https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/mithridatism
[3] https://www.wordnik.com/words/mithridatism
[4] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mithridate
[5] https://blogs.ubc.ca/bctox2015/files/2018/07/9.-Solve-the-Mystery-Mithridates-VI-2018-453264-6.pdf
[6] https://www.dictionary.com/browse/mithridatism
[7] https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/mithridatism
[8] https://www.definitions.net/definition/mithridatism